DOHA: Washington’s special envoy to Afghanistan met with the Taliban in Qatar, the insurgents said Saturday, as efforts intensify to revive a peace process faced with mounting violence and a US troop withdrawal deadline, foreign media reported.

Eight security force members were killed and six more were wounded in an attack by the Taliban in Nahr-e-Shahi district in Balkh province on Saturday night, the provincial police said. The police said that five Taliban were also killed and seven more were wounded in the fighting.

Amid new developments in the peace efforts, Afghanistan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said negotiations with the Taliban will lead to a temporary peace, and he reiterated that achieving real peace requires addressing the regional and international dimensions of Afghanistan’s issue.

TOLOnews has seen a proposed draft plan for Afghan peace that was recently shared with political leaders and outlines a roadmap toward an end to the violence and a structure for a future government.

At least eight policemen were killed after Taliban militants stormed a security base in northern Balkh province, police confirmed. Adil Shah Adil, a spokesman for Balkh police said the militants attacked the Shahrak Afghania Base in the Nahr-e-Shahi district of the provinces on Saturday night.

Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation said Sunday that the republic’s shortcomings have weakened the government’s position with regards to the peace talks with the Taliban.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has handed over Washington’s plan for the formation of a transitional government in Afghanistan, the Taliban confirmed.